The suspense ended Friday afternoon for Aldon Smith and the San Francisco 49ers, when they exercised their option on the troubled star for the 2015 season.

The deadline is Saturday at midnight ET for the members of the 2011 first-round draft class to be offered the contract extension, or risk having their rookie contracts run out and hitting free agency after this season. Smith was the biggest wild-card of the class, thanks to the combination of 42 sacks in 43 regular-season games - and a major role in the 49ers' Super Bowl XLVII trip - and multiple arrests, incidents involving alcohol and a trip to treatment last season.

Aldon Smith (AP Photo)

Smith, 24, is now guaranteed against injury for $9.754 million in 2015, but the 49ers' could still release him with no obligations before the start of that season.

General manager Trent Baalke told reporters last week, during the first week of the 49ers' offseason workouts (attended by Smith), that though he was "disappointed" in Smith's actions, they wanted him there long-term.

“We’re a family,” Baalke said. “You don’t just open the door and toss people out of it. You continue to work until they leave you no choice.”

Also receiving the option for 2015 Friday were linebacker Ryan Kerrigan from Washington, and defensive tackle Phil Taylor from the Browns. As of early Friday evening, six players' status was undetermined, and Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley had already been informed his option would not be exercised.

Three of the 2011 picks (tackle Gabe Carimi, tackle Danny Watkins and wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin) were ineligible for the option.